Olive Harvesting in Calabria- Life Imitates Art

Ciccio's Olive Groves

In this week’s edition of Cibo & Cinema, a look at olive harvesting in Calabria with one of my favorite short films- Luigi Di Gianni’s 1967 “Tempo di Raccolta,” which documents a day in the life of Calabrese women as they work in the olive groves of the region. 

The simple yet stunning beauty of those majestic trees, Di Gianni’s choice of traditional music, and the play of sun and shadow during autumn days turn the film into a visual and aural symphony. The generations of women working together, with the older ones filling the baskets and the younger ones lifting them atop their heads and carrying them off, present a picture of contentment.

I talked with Pennsylvania-based, Calabrese olive oil producer Giuseppe “Pino” Pugliano who co-founded Ciccio's Olives with his wife, Laura. Their family farm is located in Vena di Máida, which is located in the province of Catanzaro. He told me about the modernization of harvesting olives and how the process has changed since Di Gianni made his film in the late ‘60s. He also shared the reasons why the climate of southern Italy is perfect for producing high quality oil and why they avoid treating the trees with herbicides. I am so grateful for his insight.

Check out our interview and visit their website- www.cicciosolives.com.

Watch "Tempo di Raccolta" on YouTube..